In 1974, the world watched in dismay as Richard Nixon resigned from the office of President of the United States, becoming the first American president to ever do so. This followed Nixon’s involvement in the famous Watergate scandal and his illegal recordings of private conversations conducted within the Oval Office.
Nixon feared that these recordings would be taken out of context and damage his legacy forever, so he desperately attempted to prevent their public release. But it was to no avail; when Nixon died in 1994, an avalanche of over 3,700 hours of recordings were released by the US government. Finally, in August 2013, these tapes were made available to the general public via an HBO documentary.
The documentary offers a unique insight into one of history’s most tumultuous periods. It reveals new facts about Nixon’s political career — facts that could only be heard through his own voice on tape — as well as details about how he went about making decisions while under immense pressure. For those who are especially interested in this period of American history or want a closer look at Nixon’s presidency, this documentary is sure to provide a fascinating insight into a momentous event.
Furthermore, the film also serves as an important reminder that no matter how much power we possess, our actions will still have consequences that can never be hidden away completely; ultimately, truth will always prevail. For these reasons alone, watching this documentary is an absolute must for anyone intrigued by this remarkable piece of political history.
